JA for Politico Pro.pdf

1. Identification of the requiring activity and the contracting activity:

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has the need to acquire an Electronic Subscription to Politico LLC

2.a Nature and/or description of the action being approved:

CFPB has need of a license for all Bureau employees and their on-site contractors to access the news and data produced and published by the Politico Pro subscription service.

2.b Name of the vendor. Politico LLC 2.c Requisition No.: NA 2.d Bridge contract: ☐ Yes ☐ No 2.e Brand name: ☐ Yes ☐ No 3.a A description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs:

Politico Pro produces original reporting and analysis on issues impacting the CFPB and their actions in near real-time and provides a platform for access to that analysis for CFPB staff.

The product produced by Politico Pro is unique and the company does not authorize any reseller to represent their content or platform.

Period of Performance: December 21, 2024 – December 20, 2025 (base year and four one-year option periods

3.b Includes IT: ☐ Yes ☒ No 3.c IGCE/Estimated dollar value:

The IGCE is $635,376 inclusive of base plus four twelve-month option periods.

4. Identification of the authority being used (Check the box that applies):

☐ 41 U.S.C. 1901 – Simplified acquisition procedures.

☐ 41 U.S.C. 1903 – Special emergency procurement authority.

5. A demonstration that the proposed contractor’s unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited.

The total cost of the acquisition is within the simplified acquisitions procedures authority and the scope and requirements for the service fit within the structure and scope of why the authority was established.

Politico Pro provides transcripts for every hearing on the Hill, typically uploaded to the platform about 4-5 hours after the hearing takes place. Legislative Compass –Open access subscription model. Users can set up keyword alerts for new legislation that is introduced, tracking bills through the legislative process, and access 12+ years of state legislation and 22+ years of federal legislation. Regulatory Compass – federal rule and comment tracking, fully integrated into Politico Pro’s Agency Directory along with state regulatory tracking from all 50 states. Teleconferences –features a handful of reporters and editors from our newsroom discussing a specific topic, which typically lasts about 45 minutes followed by a Q&A. These teleconferences are exclusive to POLITICO Pro subscribers. As a web-based service, Politico http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/USCODE-2011-title41/USCODE-2011-title41-subtitleI-divsnB-chap19-sec1901 http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/USCODE-2011-title41/USCODE-2011-title41-subtitleI-divsnB-chap19-sec1903

Treasury Standard Form – 1013 (Rev 5/18)

Prescribed by Treasury: DTAP 1013.501

Pro access is available through any web browser to any CFPB staff member, including field staff.

6. A description of efforts to ensure that offers were solicited from as many potential sources as is practicable, including whether a notice was or will be publicized as required by FAR subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies:

The initial procurement for these services was the result of competition. However, due to the nature of acquisition and the unique qualifications of the proposed contractor as described in section 5 above the Government is unable to solicit sources at this time. The Government will continue to seek competition for these services for subsequent acquisitions.

In accordance with FAR subpart 5.2, a notice of intent to award a sole source contract under the authority of FAR subpart 13.5 was posted on the Government Point of Entry. This notice will afford an opportunity for all responsible sources to submit a capability statement which shall be considered by the Government.

7. A determination by the contracting officer that the anticipated cost to the Government will be fair and reasonable:

The Contracting Officer will determine the acquisition is fair and reasonable prior to award.

8. A description of the market research conducted (see FAR part 10) and the results or a statement of the reason market research was not conducted:

Market research was conducted leading up to our decision to enter into a new agreement with this vendor. It was determined that CFPB already has an agreement with the primary competitors to this product, CQ Roll Call and Bloomberg Government. The differentiating consideration for Politico Pro is the amount of original reporting they create and the near real-time in which they share their research with CFPB staff. These factors were unique when we looked at other information providers that focused on legislative and regulatory actions.

CFPB Library staff have performed market research and sought to identify any other party that produced the same or similar content under the same circumstances. We verified that the producer does not authorize any resellers. We evaluated other products that, on the surface, seemed to be the same or similar and we sought feedback from CFPB Division personnel on the value of this service, relative to the cost. We chose to pursue the acquisition in order to support the requirements of CFPB staff to stay informed on what is happening in the legislative and regulatory arena.

9.a Any other facts supporting this justification:

This is a continuation of services initiated in 2020 (see 20343021F0004). The CFPB currently has about 300 staff receiving updates daily and their reliance on this information has increased since we acquired the service.

9.b Attachments: ☐ Yes ☒ No

10. A listing of sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition:

None.

11. A statement of the actions, if any, the Requiring Activity or Contracting Activity may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required:

The CFPB will continue to monitor the market for future acquisitions to see if vendors can provide the information needed or vendors add the data needed to their portfolio.

12. Certifications and Approvals:

12.a Program Office certification (Requiring Activity). I hereby certify that any supporting information and data provided, which form the basis for this justification, are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Name: Jawad Syedain Date:11/19/2024

Signature:

12.b Contracting Officer certification and approval. I hereby determine the circumstances of this acquisition support the justification to acquire the item(s) on a sole source (including brand name) basis under the authority of FAR subpart 13.5. I also certify this justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Therefore, unless additional approvals are required as prescribed below, as the authorized contracting officer for this acquisition, I hereby approve this justification.

Name: Date:

Signature:

13. Additional Reviews and Approvals (As applicable):

13.a Bureau Chief Information Officer or Authorized Designee (for IT requirements that are over $5 million, but not exceeding $68 million) (Contracting Activity). I have reviewed this justification and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and representative of the Government’s need. Therefore, I hereby consent to the approval of this justification. (Note: The Bureau CIO may delegate their authority for proposed contracts over $5 million, but not exceeding $13.5 million to the Associate Bureau CIO(s).)

Name: Date:

Signature:

13.b Advocate for Competition (if over $700,000, but not exceeding $13.5 million) (Contracting Activity). I have reviewed this justification and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Therefore, unless additional approvals are required as prescribed below, as the Advocate for competition, I hereby approve this justification.

Name: Date:

Signature:

13.c Head of the Procuring Activity or Authorized Designee (if over $13.5 million, but not exceeding $68 million) (Contracting Activity). I have reviewed this justification and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Therefore, unless additional approvals are required as prescribed below, as the head of the procuring activity or authorized designee, I hereby approve this justification.

Name: Date:

Signature:

13.d Treasury Chief Information Officer (for IT requirements that are over $68 million).

I have reviewed this justification and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief, and representative of the Government’s need. Therefore, I hereby consent to the approval of this justification.

Name: Date:

Signature:

13.e Senior Procurement Executive (if over $68 million) (Contracting Activity). I have reviewed this justification and find it to be accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief. Therefore, as the senior procurement official, I hereby approve this justification.

Name: Date:

Signature: